An interview with Giles Palmer, inspirational gamechanger

Interview, Brighton Summit, Friday 16 October

Giles Palmer is the CEO and Founder of Brandwatch, a leading enterprise social intelligence provider. Giles launched the business in 2007 with fewer than 20 people and a handful of clients. Today, Brandwatch is one of the UK's biggest start-up success stories. With more than 300 staff across seven global offices, Brandwatch has grown to service more than 1,200 clients; including more than a third of the Fortune 100. The company was announced as the 20th fastest growing technology company in the UK in The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for 2014.

Giles will discuss Brandwatch's growth trajectory to date, principles that he follows for growth, and he’ll be passing on things he’s learnt along the way.

This will include:

• assessing the potential size of the market for a product or service as a limiting factor on growth potential
• the importance of timing product development and product launch optimally for expansion
• having everything in place and being in a position to move forward with that growth when the time is right for that growth
• strategic aspects of attracting and negotiating finance and investment to support growth
• dealing with the thorny question of ambition and 'how big do we really want to be?'
• harnessing the potential of the internet in creating global networks
• the challenges of building effective teams in a high growth setting, and keeping staff on-board and motivated
• attracting bigger clients and the challenges of servicing them
• staying innovative while growing very fast
• mental and emotional aspect of sustaining a long-term growth pattern
• and mistakes he has made along the way

Giles will be interviewed by Gerry Thompson, who also interviewed him along with top global entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington and Jamie Oliver, for his 2015 book from Financial Times Publishing, Inspirational Gamechangers: how the best business talent create astonishingly successful companies. Gerry also runs Positive Comedy Learning and Development.

One of 20 sessions to choose from at www.brightonsummit.com

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